Self-feeding cornhusking machine



April 1, 9 2 H. ROSENTHAL 2,591,200

SELF-FEEDiNG CORNHUSKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 10, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

April 1, 1952 H. L. ROSENTHAL.

SELF-FEEDING CORNHUSKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 10, 1948 %%VENTOR./

April I, 1952 H. L. ROSENTHAL SELF-FEEDING CORNHUSKING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 10, 1948 ill!!! lillllllllil 1''!!! v! l'fll lillllilll I-III INVENTOR.

Patented Apr. 1, 1952 UNETE STATES PATENT OFFICE SELF-FEEDING CORNHUSKING BIACHINE (30., Milwaukee, Wis.

Application January 12 Claims.

lhis invention relates to improvements in selffeeding corn husking machines.

In application, Serial No. 629,549, filed November 19, 1945, which became Patent No. 2,538,914, there is disclosed a corn husking machine having a novel type of self-feeder which is particularly adapted for use in a machine having combination snapping and husking rollers which extend in a generally longitudinal direction. The present invention is an improvement upon the mechanism disclosed in the above mentioned pending application and embodies a novel type of feed table action which is designed to produce a more eflicient feeding of the material and to produce a more effective band severing action. Heretofore it has been common practice in this type of machine to break the bands on the bundles of corn by means of a forcible pull which is intended to snap or break the band due to the strain exerted thereon. This is an ineflicient method of removing bands.

It is a general object of the present invention to obviate the above mentioned objectionable features of prior machines by providing means for cutting of the bands with a true scissors action.

10, 1948, Serial No. 1,527

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described, wherein the scissors action is created by means including a novel type of mounting for the vibratory feed decks.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described in which at least three feed decks are employed, the center deck at the receiving end being mounted on an upwardly directed swingable link and the decks on each side of said center deck at the receiving end being mounted on cranks which are disposed 180 from one another, the arrangement at the opposite or inner end of the feed table being reversed in that the center deck is mounted on a crank and the two side decks are mounted on upwardly directed swingable links.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described wherein there are feed teeth on the upper edges of the side walls of the decks which face in the same direction throughout a major portion of the length of the decks, certain teeth near the inner ends of the decks, however, being disposed to face in an opposite direction from adjacent teeth on an adjacent deck to produce a plurality of scissors arrangements.

. A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described, wherein there is a band-cutting scissors action on one side of the feed table near the inner end thereof during a certain part of the cycle of operation, a bandcutting scissors action on the opposite side of the feed table near the inner end thereof during another part of the cycle of operation, and wherein there is only a feeding action during the rest of the cycle of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction as above described which is suitable for use not only in corn huskers having combination snapping and husking rolls which extend in a longitudinal direction but, also, in corn huskers having transverse snapping rolls.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved self-feeding corn husking machine, and all its parts and combinations, as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawing, illustrating one complete embodiment of the preferred form of the invention, in which the same reference numerals designate the same parts in all of the views.

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a corn husker embodying the improved self-feeding mechanism, casing portions being broken away to show the interior mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the self-feeding mechanism illustrating its association with the combination snapping and husking rollers, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a partially diagrammatic view looking down on the structure of Fig. 2 with the outside casing portions shown in horizontal section and with the combination husking and snapping rolls shown by dot and dash lines;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical, longitudinal sectional view showing the action of the retarding drum and beater roll in conjunction with the stalks as the stalks leave the decks;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the forward ends of the decks just as a band is about to be cut by the coacting knives on one side of the feed table, parts being broken away and shown in section;

Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken on the line L4 of Fig. 6;

Fig, 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6, the dot and dash lines showing the position of the crank when the other parts are in the position of Fig. 5;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary perspective view showing forward portions of the decks while in substantially the position of Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view through the crank shaft below the forward ends of the decks showing the position of the crank and swinging arms when the crank is advanced one quarter turn from the position of Fig. 6;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 9 showing the change in the relative positions of the decks when the crank is in the position of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10 showing the crank advanced another quarter turn, this being the position of the crank when the cranks on the other shaft are in the positon of Fig. 5;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view similar to Figs. 9 and 11 showing the change in relative positions of the decks when the crank is in the position of Fig. 12; r

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the crank advanced another quarter turn; and

Fig. 15 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 13 showing the relative positions of the decks when the crank is in the position of Fig. 14.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the corn husker illustrated in Fig. 1 includes a frame it supported on wheels II. The frame supports combination husking and snapping rolls 12 which are now well known in the art and which extend longitudinally of the machine and which incline downwardly toward their discharge end. Preferably, there are two pairs of these rollers as is clear from Fig. 3. The snapping portions are at the upper end and are designated by the numeral l3. The husking portions are designated by the numeral l4. Stalks which are delivered to the snapping portions l3 pass through said portions and the ears are snapped off. The cars travel downwardly along the husking portions l4 where the husking operation is performed. The ears are then delivered by an endless elevator l5 to a suitable receptacle. After the stalks pass through the snapping portions 13 they are cut up by suitable shredding apparatus, which is well known in the art, and the shredded fodder is blown through a conduit l6 and then to a wagon or other receptacle. Shelled corn which is separated from the fodder is discharged from a spout ll. The above described mechanism is at the present time well known in the art but has been described so that the novel features of the present invention will be more clearly understood.

Journalled transversely of the frame at the bundle receiving end thereof is a shaft [8 having spaced cranks i9 and thereon (see Fig. 5) which are out of phase 180. Intermediate the cranks the shaft 18 extends through a bore 21 in a swinging link 22, the latter projecting upwardly above the shaft Ill. The cranks l9 and 29 support and actuate the receiving ends of decks 23 and 24 respectively, said decks having blocks 25 and 26 projecting downwardly and said blocks having bearing portions near their lower ends through which the cranks rotatably extend. The upper end of the swinging link 22 is pivotally connected as at 2? to brackets 21 which project downwardly from a center deck 28.

Extending transversely of the frame below the inner ends of the decks is an inner transverse shaft 29 having a center crank 30 (see Fig. 7). On'one side of the crank 33 the shaft 29 extends loosely through a bearing 3| at the lower end of aswinging link 32. The upper end of the link 32 is pivotally connected as at 33 to brackets deck 23. On the opposite side of the crank 30 the shaft 23 extends loosely through a bearing 34 at the lower end of a swinging link 35. The upper end of the link 35 is pivotally connected as at 36 to brackets 31 which depends from the deck E l. A block 33 projecting downwardly from the center deck 23 has a bearing portion 39 at its lower end through which the crank 30 extends. It is thus apparent that the deck 23 at its receiving end is supported on a crank and at its inner end on a swinging arm; that the deck 24 at its receiving end is supported by a crank which is out of phase with the crank at the corresponding end of the deck 23, and that the deck 24 is also supported at its inner end on a swinging arm. In opposition to this, the center deck 23 is supported on a swinging arm at its receiving end and on a crank at its inner end. Thus, the decks are subject to a "peculiar type of movement the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained in detail. When the cranks on the shaft I3 are in the position of Fig. 5, the crank and links on the shaft 29 are in the position of Fig. 12.

The deck 23 is provided with an upstanding outer side wall ill and with an upstanding inner side wall 4|. The upper edge of the side wall 40 is formed throughout its length with bundle advancing teeth 42, all of the teeth facing inwardly as is clear from Figs. 9, 11 and 13, throughout the length of said wall. The upper edge of the other side wall il of the deck 23 is formed for two-thirds or more of its length with teeth 43 (see Fig. 2), which face in an inward direction.

Beginning at a location approximately at the retarding drum 5! and continuing to the inner end of the deck, however, the teeth at the upper edge of the wall M are faced in a reverse direction, as at 44.

The center deck 28 has side wall portions 45 and 46, the upper edges of which are formed with inwardly facing teeth 41 and 48 throughout the length of said wall portions (see Fig. 9). The deck 24 has an outer side wall 49 and an inner side wall Ell. The side wall 49 has its upper edge provided with inwardly facing teeth 5| throughout the length of said side wall. The side wall portion 50, however, has inwardly facing teeth for only approximately two-thirds of the length of said wall portion, and for the remainder of the length of the wall portion there are teeth 53 which are faced reversely as is clear from Figs. 6 and 9.

On each side of the vibratory feed decks the machine is formed with side walls 54, formed of sheet metal or other suitable material, which provide a trough for receiving and holding the bundles on top of the decks. In order not to hide other parts, only portions of these trough forming walls are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

Above the inner end portions of the decks the trough forming side wall portions 54 are formed with oval openings 55 which extend at an angle upwardly (see Fig. 2). Extending through said openings 55 is a shaft 55 on which a retarding drum 5? is rigidly mounted. The drum includes spaced end disks 58, and between the disks are a plurality of axially extending concave plates 59 which have abutting longitudinal edges forming gates. Projecting from each of the concave plates at approximately the longitudinal center line thereof is a ledge 60.

The ends of the drum shaft '53 are journalled inopenings formed in the upper ends of inclined supporting arms 6!. These arms are positioned on opposite sides of the side plates 54 exteriorally thereof. The upper ends of the supporting arms are guided beneath straps 62 which permit movement of the supporting arms in the manner shown by the dot and dash lines in Fig. 2. The lower ends of the straps 62 are connected to the sides of the trough and form stops to limit downward movement of the arms Bl. The lower or inner ends of the supporting arms 8! are formed with openings within which the ends of a beater shaft 63 rotatably extend. These ends of the beater shaft are also journalled through bearing blocks 64 which are slidable in slots 65 formed between spaced angle bars 66. A rod 67, projecting upwardly from each block, extends through a hole in an angle member 68 and is equipped with a coil spring 69. The upper end of the spring 69 bears against a collar 10. With this arrangement, the spring 69 constantly urges the bearing blocks 64 toward the raised position, shown by full lines in Fig. 2. It is to be understood that the structure of the bearing block, rod and spring is duplicated on the two sides of the trough. Rigidly mounted on the beater shaft 63 is a beater H (see Fig. 4).

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 3, the drive for the feeder and associated mechanism will be described. The transverse shaft 12 which is suitably driven from other portions of the machine, and which serves to drive the combination snapping and husking rollers [2 in the manner shown in Fig. 2, is provided on one end with a sprocket wheel 13 which is connected by a sprocket chain 14 with a larger sprocket wheel 15 mounted rigidly on one end of a shaft 16. The opposite end of the shaft 16 carries a sprocket wheel 11 and a pulley 18. The pulley 18 is connected by a crossed endless belt 19 with a pulley 80 rigidly mounted on an end of the deck vibrating shaft 29 which is beneath the inner portions of the decks. The sprocket wheel 11 on the transverse shaft 16 is connected by an endless chain 8| with a sprocket wheel 82 rigidly mounted on one end of the shaft 63 for the beater roll. The guideway slots 65 for the beater roll bearing blocks 64 extend at such an angle that there will be no substantial change in the tension of the endless chain 8| in any position of the beater shaft 63. Thus, the floating mounting of the beater will not interfere with the drive. The opposite end of the shaft 63 has a rigidly mounted small sprocket wheel 83 which is connected by a chain 84 with a large sprocket wheel 85 rigidly mounted on an idler stud 86 projecting from one of the arms 61. The idler stud also carries a rigidly mounted small sprocket wheel 81 which is connected by an endless chain 88 with a large sprocket wheel as rigidly mounted on an end of the shaft 56 for the retarding. drum. Due to the use of the connecting arms 6| which carry the drive sprockets 83, 85, 81, 89 and 82, the beater and drum can be driven from the same source without any difficulty because of the floating mountings. The shaft 29 has a rigidly mounted sprocket wheel 93 which is connected by an endless chain 94 with a sprocket wheel 95 on the shaft l8.

Operation In operation of the device, when a bundle of corn is thrown into the trough formed by the side plates 54 and onto the left hand or receiving ends of the decks 23, 24 and 28, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, the vibratory motion of the decks at their receiving ends, all moving in a different manner because of the mounting shown in Fig. 5. will cause the bundle to progress forwardly toward the drum 5? at a relatively fast rate. It is to be noted that the mounting for the receiving ends of the decks causes the deck on one side, such as the deck 23, to move forwardly and downwardly while the deck on the opposite side, such as the deck 24, moves rearwardly and upwardly, and at the same time the center deck 28 is swinging rearwardly on a relatively restricted arc. As a result of this arrangement, the bundle is first advanced inwardly in a rather rapid manner by. the teeth of the deck 23 (these teeth being at the highest elevation as shown in Figs. 2 and 5) and then by the teeth of the deck 24. As the teeth of the deck 26 are lowered out of engagement with the bundle after an advancing movement and just before the bundle is again engaged by the teeth of the deck 23, the bundle is additionally advanced by an advancing movement of the teeth of the center deck 28. It is, therefore, apparent that a very efficient feeding movement is created. The drive arrangement is such that the drum 51 is rotated at a very slow speed as compared with the speed of rotation of the shafts I8 and 29. As the ends of the stalks hit one of the concave sections or" the drum 51, such as the concave section a, the forward movement of the bundle will be arrested. As the stalks are fed beneath. the drum 51, the band 90 on the bundle in all probability will be caught between a pair of oppositely facing teeth 53 and 48 of the adjacent walls and 46 on one side of the series of decks, as is illustrated in Fig. 6. As the crank 30 on the shaft 29 moves from the position of Fig. 6 to the position of Fig. 10 (which is an advance of one-quarter turn), the teeth 53 and 48 will close in scissors fashion on the band 55, as is clear from Fig. 9, and the deck portions will arrive at the position shown in Fig. 11 with the crank in the position of Fig. 10 and after the band S0 has been cut, if the band has'been engaged in the manner shown in Figs. 6 and 9. If, for any reason the band is not cut by the scissors action of the teeth 53 and 48, then it will be engaged between the teeth 41 and 44 on the deck walls and 4! at the opposite side of the table after the parts have advanced another quarter turn to the position of Figs. 12 and 13. 13 shows the position of the band 99 ready to be cut when the teeth close. After the crank 36 has moved another quarter turn from the position of Fig. 12 to the position of Fig. 14, then the deck portions will move from the position of Fig. 13 to the position of Fig. 15, closing on the band 9!] and ultimately cutting the same with a scissors action.

It is thus apparent that a band cutting opera tion takes place on one side of the deck structure during one-quarter of the cycle, that a band cutting operation takes place on the opposite side of the deck structure during another quarter of the cycle, and that during the rest of the cycle the inner ends of the decks serve to carry out a feeding action to aid in moving the stalks inwardly toward the snapping roll portions I3.

At the inner end of the feed table, as the inner end of the deck 23 swings forwardly in 'an arc, the inner end of the deck 24 on the opposite side swings rearwardly in an arc. At the same time, the inner end of the center deck moves inwardly and downwardly, to effect a scissors action with the teeth 53 of the deck 24. Following this, the center deck moves rearwardly and upwardly and 7 then upwardly and forwardly to first effect a band cutting scissors action in cooperation with the teeth 44 on the deck 23, and then move to a position above said teeth 44 and cause a forward feeding movement of the stalks.

It is immaterial how many bundles are thrown one on top of the other in the trough above the vibrating decks as long as each bundle is spaced somewhat rearwardly of the bundle therebelow. The concave section b of the retarding drum will tend to push and hold back the bundle next above the lowermost bundle as the lowermost bundle is being moved slowly beneath the drum. As the stalks of the lowermost bundle move beneath the drum the upper ends of the arms 6| will yield upwardly within the strap 62 from the position of Fig. 2 to the position of Fig. 4 to allow more space between the drum 5'? and the inner ends of the decks. This movement will be against the weight of the drum 5?. Due to the interconnection between the drum and beater ll through the use of the arms 6!, when the drum is raised the weight of the drum will tend to cause the beater shaft and beater to be lowered against the tension of the springs 69 from the full line position of Fig. 2 to the dot and dash line position therein.

However, under certain conditions, the beater may also be elevated. The arrangement of the floating mountings is such that both the drum and beater can adapt themselves to requirements. The beater tends to spread the stalks and acts as an agitator to prevent broken stalks from lodging in a crosswise position instead of being fed through the snapping rolls.

It is apparent from the discussion of Figs. 5 to 15 that a very novel action is imparted to the vibratory decks, which action not only results in very efiicient feeding movement but, also, in conjunction with the novel tooth arrangement at the inner ends of the decks produces a scissors cutting of the bands, part of the cycle of movement at the inner ends of the decks being used to cut bands on one side of the feed table, part being used to cut bands on the opposite side of the feed table, and part being used for feeding purposes.

While the novel deck movement and scissors action has been shown as incorporated in a special type of corn husking machine having combination snapping and husking rolls which extend in a generally longitudinal direction, and is very eflicient when used in this type of machine, nevertheless, this novel feature is also useful in conjunction with husking machines having transversely extending snapping rolls and in connection with other agricultural machines where bundled material is handled. It is also to be understood that more than three decks may be employed if desired.

Various other changes may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and all of such changes are contemplated, as may come within the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device for feeding material into an agricultural machine, a plurality of inclined elongated decks positioned to support and feed material which is placed thereon and extending adjacent one another, said decks being positioned sufficiently close together to prevent any substantial amount of material placed thereon from falling therebetween, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to one end of one of said decks, a swingable support for the other end of said deck, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to the end of the other deck which is adjacent the swingably supported end of the first deck, and a swingable support for the other end of said second mentioned deck.

2. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine, a plurality of elongated material feeding decks extending adjacent one another, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to one end of one of said decks, a swingable support for the other end of said deck, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to the end of the other deck which is adjacent the swingably supported end of the first deck, and a swingable support for the other end of said second mentioned deck, said decks having upwardly projecting teeth at adjacent sides thereof with at least part of the teeth on one deck facing in an opposite direction from the corresponding teeth on the other deck, said oppositely facing teeth being sufficiently close to each other to effect a scissors action during part of the movement of said decks.

3. In a device for feeding material into an agricultural machine, three elongated decks positioned to support and feed material which is placed thereon and extending adjacent one another, said decks being positioned sufficiently close together to prevent any substantial amount of the material placed thereon from falling there'- between, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to one end of the center deck; swingable supports for the same ends of the other decks, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to the opposite ends of said other decks, and a swingable support for the opposite end of said center deck.

4. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine, three elongated decks extending adjacent one another, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to one end of the center deck, swingable supports for the same ends of the other decks, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to the opposite ends of said other decks, and a swingable support for the opposite end of said center deck, said center deck having upwardly projecting teeth at both sides thereof and the adjacent sides of the other decks having upwardly projecting teeth which face in an opposite direction from some of the corresponding teeth on the center deck, the teeth on one side of the center deck being sufficiently close to the teeth on the adjacent side. of the adjacent deck to efiect a scissors action during part of the movement of said decks, and the teeth on the other side of the center deck being sufiiciently close to the teeth on the adjacent side of the other deck to also effect a scissors action.

5. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine, three elongated decks extending adjacent one another, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to one end of the center deck, swingable supports for the sameends of the other decks, means for imparting. rotary motion in a vertical plane to the opposite ends of said other decks, said rotary motion for one of said last mentioned decks being out of phase with said rotary motion for the other of said decks, and a swingable support for the opposite end of said center deck, said center deck having upwardly projecting teeth at both sides thereof and the adjacent sides of the other decks having upwardly projecting teeth which face in an opposite direction from some of the corresponding teeth on the center deck, the teeth on one side of the center deck being sufficiently close to the teeth on the adjacent side of the adjacent deck to effect a scissors action during part of the movement of said decks, and the teeth on the other side of the center deck being sufficiently close to the teeth on the adjacent side of the other deck to also effect a scissors action.

6. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine, a plurality of elongated decks extending adjacent one another and having receiving ends and having inner ends, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to one end of one of said decks, a swingable support for the other end of said deck, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to the end of the other deck which is adjacent the swingably supported end of the first deck, a

swingable support for the other end of said second mentioned deck, said decks having upwardly pro jecting teeth at side portions thereof, the teeth on at least a portion of one deck near its inner endfacing in an opposite direction from the corresponding teeth on the adjacent side portion of an adjacent deck, the majority of the teeth on said decks facing in a forward direction and being engageable with the material to effect a feeding action.

'7. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine, three elongated decks extending adjacent one another and having receiving ends and having inner ends, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to one end of the center deck, swingable supports for the same ends of the other decks, means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to the opposite ends of said other decks, and a swingable support for the other end of said center deck, side portions of said decks having upwardly projecting teeth and the teeth on the portion of the center deck near its inner end facing in an opposite direction from the teeth on the adjacent corresponding portions of the other decks, the major portion of the teeth on said decks facing in a forward direction and being engageable with the material to effect a feeding action.

8. In a device for feeding material into an agricultural machine, a frame, a plurality of elongated decks positioned to support and feed material placed thereon and having receiving ends and inner ends, said decks also being positioned sufficiently close together to prevent any substantial amount of material placed thereon from falling therebetween, a shaft j ournalled in said frame and extending transversely below said decks near the receiving ends thereof, a shaft journalled in said frame and extending transversely below said decks near the inner ends thereof, a crank connection between a first one of said shafts and one of said decks, a swingable link connection be tween the other of said shafts and the same deck, a swingable link connection between an adjacent deck and the first one of said shafts, and a crank connection between said adjacent deck and the other of said shafts.

9. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine, a frame, a plurality of elongated decks having receiving ends and having inner ends, a shaft journalled in said frame and extending transversely below said decks near the receiving ends thereof, a shaft journalled in said frame and extending transversely below said decks near the inner ends thereof, a crank connection between a first one of said. shafts and one of said decks, a swingable link connection between the other of said shafts and the same deck, a swingable link connection between an adjacent deck and the first one of said shafts and a crank connection between said adjacent deck and the other of said'shafts, one of said decks having teeth projecting upwardly from a side thereof which teeth face in one direction, and an adjacent side portion of the other deck having teeth projecting upwardly therefrom which face in the opposite direction, said oppositely facing teeth being positioned close to one another, said crank and link connections between so arranged as to cause opposite movement of one deck with respect to the adjacent deck during at least a part of the cycle of movement of said decks produced by rotation of said shafts.

10. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine, a plurality of elongated decks having upright side portions and having teeth projecting upwardly from said side portions, the side portion of one deck being close to the side portion of another deck and at least some of the teeth on said adjacent side portions facing in opposite directions, and means for imparting different vibratory motion to each deck, said means including mechanism for causing the oppositely facing teeth to close in scissors fashion at regular intervals so as to shear bands on the bundled material.

11. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine; a plurality of inclined elongated material feeding decks positioned in side by side relationship with their longitudinal axes in substantially parallel vertical planes, said decks having reeciving ends on which material is adapted to be placed and having inner ends, and said decks being positioned sufficiently close together to prevent any substantial amount of the material placed thereon from falling therebetween; means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to one end of one of said decks; a swingable support for the other end of said deck; means for imparting rotary motion in a vertical plane to the end of the other deck which is adjacent the swingably supported end of the first deck, a swingable support for the other end of said second mentioned deck; and teeth on said decks projecting upwardly from side portions thereof, the teeth on said decks being engageable with the material from below to effect a feeding action.

12. In a device for feeding bundled material into an agricultural machine, a plurality of elongated decks having teeth projecting upwardly from sides thereof, the teeth of one deck being close to the teeth of another deck and at least some of the teeth on adjacent sides facing in opposite directions; and means for imparting different vibratory motion to each deck, said means including mechanism for causing the oppositely facing teeth to close in scissors fashion at regular intervals so as to shear bands on the bundled material.

HENRY L. ROSENTHAL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 312,006 Neukomm Feb. 10, 1885 514,193 Kailor et al. Feb, 6, 1894 520,216 Oliva May 22, 1894 654,417 Sailer July 24, 1900 672,026 Warrick Apr. 16, 1901 721,13'7 Bate Feb. 3, 1903 2,311,169 Gordon Feb. 16, 1943 

